The young men with NCAA ties participating in the Avalanche's prospects camp this week must pay their own travel costs to keep their college eligibility.

That's not an issue for former University of Denver recruit Landon Smith, a Greenwood Village native who has made the drive to Centennial's Family Sports Center more times than most Avalanche veterans.

Smith, the reigning MVP of the British Columbia Hockey League and finalist as Canada's junior-A player of the year, was extended a camp invitation as an undrafted free agent after his heralded youth/junior career took him to five cities in two countries. He went from the Littleton Hawks to the Colorado Thunderbirds, the Wenatchee (Wash.) Wild, the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) RoughRiders, the Chicago Steel and the Salmon Arm (British Columbia) Silverbacks.

Smith has blossomed into a spectacular 6-foot, 190-pound forward and is bound for 2013 Frozen Four participant Quinnipiac University this fall after turning down offers from perennial powers such as North Dakota and Michigan, among others.

"I know he's excited and we're all excited to have him here," Avalanche executive vice president Joe Sakic said of Smith, 20, who captained the 2010 16-under Thunderbirds to Colorado's first Tier I, triple-A national title. "Local kid, and I'll tell you what, he had a tremendous year last year. It's going to be exciting for him to be a part of this and see what we're all about."

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Smith grew up with defenseman Seth Jones of the Nashville Predators and remembers watching the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals between the Avs and New Jersey Devils with Jones, with both dreaming of someday playing for the Avs. Smith wanted to play first at DU.

Smith's journey has brought him home, but not to the hockey team he originally envisioned.

Recruited by former DU coach George Gwozdecky and his staff, Smith would have joined the Pioneers this fall. But Gwozdecky was fired April 1, , 2013, and his successor, Jim Montgomery, nixed that plan last year during his first season at DU, before Smith signed a letter of intent and established himself as the BCHL's best player.

In Smith's third and final junior A year, he led the BCHL with 43 goals in 58 games.

"That gave me fire, lit a fire under me, and I wanted to prove everybody wrong," Smith said of Montgomery's decision. "The biggest thing I've learned with DU and all the trades in the USHL is to not rely on outside sources to give me confidence. I need that confidence within myself, whether I'm down in the dumps or not."

Per NCAA rules, Montgomery can't publicly comment about Smith because he signed with Qunnipiac. But Montgomery, a former undrafted NHL winger, previously said he is happy to see Smith develop into a prized NHL free-agent candidate and realizes it's a terrific Colorado hockey story. He is pulling for Smith to flourish at Qunnipiac and someday sign a pro contract.

Smith could sign such a deal at any time, even during this week's Avalanche camp.

"That's something I would have to consider, for sure," he said.

All signs point toward Smith playing at Qunnipiac and continuing to work toward a pro deal.

"I want to continue to put my name out there, continue to work hard and try to get to that level," Smith said. "I'm excited for the opportunity. I'm looking forward to it. It's a new chapter in life, and I think it will be a great experience."

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